From The Desk of the Director

Thank you everyone for participating in our Summer Reading Clubs! We hope you enjoyed the activities and programs our staff prepared for you.

Looking ahead, September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Any Derby resident who does not already have one, is encouraged to visit and discover everything that is available to you, free, with the “smartest” card in your wallet: a Derby Public Library card!

September also spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools during Banned Books Week (September 22-28). While books have been and continue to be challenged, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.

Lastly, for the first time in US history, the 2020 Census will be conducted primarily online. The library will share details on how you can complete the questionnaire at the library as April 1 draws near. This is not a new role for libraries. In the 2010 Census, libraries hosted more than 6,000 official Census Bureau outreach sites; providing free access to public computers in support or a more complete count, an issue of equity, diversity, and inclusion.